Reactance

Brehm summarised his Theory of Psychological Reactance by saying "In
general, the theory holds that a threat to or loss of a freedom
motivates the individual to restore that freedom. ... The theory
stipulates what constitutes a freedom, how freedoms can be threatened or
eliminated, and how the ensuing motivational state (psychological
reactance) will manifest itself."

The theory also associates the state of reactance with emotional stress,
anxiety, resistance and struggle for the individual, and is a powerful
model for understanding the behaviour of slaves as their freedoms are
progressively removed.